How to Make Your House Wheelchair Accessible - Prepare Home for Wheelchair

[@rmhagan1985]

Just one suggestion for using a potty chair - after emptying the bucket, put a couple inches of water and a splash of disinfectant in the bucket. Then it will be much easier to clean after the next use and the disinfectant will keep odor to a minimum. (Late to the KZbin viewing party! But, this video, as is usually true for your videos, Laurie, is incredibly helpful.)

[@TravelTipsbyLaurie]

I love this idea. That would def help. Thanks for watching!

[@MrMetalManMe]

Great tips. Never thought of splitting my medication from my main station with the bedroom instead of carrying them around the house A grabber/litter picker grab stick is also a very important tool for me too. Don't pick it up by mistake and bend it and go flying across the room though. It hurts. Now I know there's nothing wrong with me having my own station fit my stuff. It as My ex calls it, a load of crap that should be put away. Some people just don't understand how hard it is being disabled.

[@TravelTipsbyLaurie]

Yes, a mental battle I am sure. Thank you for watching! Now I only make travel tip videos with much better lighting and sound.

[@Chrissy85308]

Amazing ideas! I can walk around my house with a cane but use a wheelchair outside of the house. i have a wonderful floor lamp with an extra light on an adjustable arm that I love. I put my charger cord over that low arm so it doesnt fall on the ground. I also have a gopher stick. it has two suction cups and you can pull the trigger to pick things up off of the floor if they drop them. I sleep in a lift chair and we have a shelf next to me that I can use two shelves easily. It is a lifesaver!. Again, amazing ideas Laurie!

[@TravelTipsbyLaurie]

I knew you would be an expert. You should make a KZbin video called Wheelchair Living! Love the gopher stick idea. Thanks for sharing.

[@Chrissy85308]

I may do that!

[@pamelamacdonald2917]

Thank You for all the Great Tips....I'm currently in a boot in addition to my wheelchair, so many things are currently accessible to me.but there won't be a walking cast for 4 mos after surgery. I've made the Kitchen Table my Base, with a Night Stand next to me. I use a Beach Bag on the back of my Chair for Sketchbooks/Magazines/Water Bottles/Snacks etc...My Daughter put Non-Perishable Food on a small Bookcase...so I have access to Snacks and Meal Prep...I hope the few Hacks I am using can be useful in turn to others

[@TravelTipsbyLaurie]

Those are great ideas! Be patient and creative! Do you watch Netflix? Loved Clickbait.

[@SnowySpiritRuby]

I'm surprised that I only just now found this video, Laurie, but such is life - I didn't discover your channel until you had transitioned to travel-only videos, so I haven't seen all of your older ones yet. A few more things I would add: If there are any stairs to get into the house (I'm thinking specifically of a wheelchair here, though it could apply to a walker as well), rent/buy (probably rent would be more economical if it's just a temporary thing) some sort of ramp(s) with some kind of grippy tread (both on top and underneath, to keep both the person and the ramp itself from slipping in case it gets wet from rain or whatever) for getting into the house. Just make sure it's long enough that the slope will be gradual enough to actually be able to make it up easily (I can't remember for sure what it says, but I believe the slope the ADA requires for businesses etc. is a rise:run of something like 1:4, so that (or whatever the actual ratio is) would be a good guideline to go by to make sure the slope of the ramp is gentle enough, but may need to go even longer depending on the physical ability of the person in question, but even if the person won't be wheeling himself/herself up it, a too-steep ramp can be just as much of a challenge for the person pushing him/her - I know from experience of both wheeling myself as well as pushing other people). If there are any floor rugs/mats that aren't securely secured to the floor around the entire edge, or aren't thin and heavy and as a stiff as a board (meaning they will still bend/fold up on the edge, or have square enough edges to make the wheels get stuck), either take them out or roll/fold them back well out of the way - they can easily get caught under foot or in the wheels (or block the wheels entirely), becoming a major tripping or flipping hazard. I once flipped backward in my chair because there was a floor rug behind me that blocked my wheels, making it impossible for me to bring the front end back down before I flipped over entirely. It was right in front of my mom, too, who insists on having tons of floor mats in certain parts of the house (mats on top of the carpet, so pointless), and, after that, she STILL can't fathom why **I** don't have a bajillion floor rugs, too. *🤦🏻‍♀️* (GOSH, I can't wait until their house is decluttered enough that I can finally get around it in my chair! They already agreed to put in some kind of ramp from the front patio to the porch when they do the front patio, so that I can go from the driveway to the patio to the porch - without me having to basically jump a curb, which I can't do on my bad days - on days where I'm doing poorly enough that I have to pretty much completely rely on my chair in order to get around.) Make sure there is enough space between furniture/walls/etc. for the mobility aid to get through - tight turns and narrow squeezes aren't fun, or sometimes even possible, especially in a wheelchair - and if there are places that aren't, move furniture (where possible) to open it up enough to make it easier. You can always move it back later (i.e. when the house no longer needs to be accessible) if you need to. Also, a shower bench/chair, movable grab bars (attach to smooth surfaces with suction cups), bed rails (I'm thinking of the kind that slide under the mattress and are basically a handle to assist with getting in and out of bed), toilet rails (at least some models can be flipped up when not needed), toilet seat riser, and other such items can also be helpful, depending on the exact needs of the particular person. I think at least some of those are generally available for rent, or can be purchased for a small sum at a DME store, pharmacy, or maybe even at a thrift store.

[@TravelTipsbyLaurie]

Can you believe how bad the lighting and sound was?

[@SnowySpiritRuby]

@@TravelTipsbyLaurie Considering that there wasn't a setup specifically designed for optimal lighting and sound, it's still pretty darn good.

[@ServingChrist]

Thank you for putting these tips together. I am sure a number of them will come in handy. God bless.

[@TravelTipsbyLaurie]

You are so welcome! I'm so sorry the lighting was awful! I thought my mom was so smart. Thanks for watching!

[@margaretdysart7484]

Great suggestions!!! I will try some of them. Just a few I do... I keep a tray with the inside covered with a cloth next to my seat (what you call "Base Camp"). It keeps items I use regularly together including a coaster for drinks. I can lift my drink and slide it toward me if I can't reach something in the back. The tray can be removed from the table if we have company. The cloth can be toss into the laundry and the tray cleans up easily. In the Bedroom, I have attached a large 3m Command Hook to my night stand to hang the hose of my C-Pap/Bi-Pap machine. The hook keeps the hose out of the way when not in use. The distilled water for the C-Pap/Bi-Pap machine is heavy and hard to lift with my arthritis/mobility issues. Try storing it higher than the floor so it is reachable and transferring it to smaller lighter bottles. In the Kitchen, I have a Smart Oven (found on Amazon). It is the size of a toaster oven but does everything a normal oven can do and more. It sits on the counter which is the perfect height for me. It great size to cook for one or two people. It is not as large as a normal oven so it uses less electric and pre-heats faster. I put the item in the oven, set the Task, Temperature, & Time. When the time is up it turns itself off except for the slow cooker setting. The slow cooker setting automatically changes to warmer setting for one hour before shutting off. Once a week, one of my adult kids fills up seven sandwich baggies with dry dog food. I cannot always bend down to reach the dog's bowl but I can dump the food from the baggie in it every morning. I reuse an 8 oz jar for the dog's water. I can refill it myself as needed.

[@TravelTipsbyLaurie]

Margaret, those are great ideas. Thanks for watching this old video.

[@polishedwhimsy9255]

Great tips Laurie! So many things to consider!

[@TravelTipsbyLaurie]

I hope you never have to consider them though. Thank you so very much for watching!

[@mealsandmemories8791]

Great ideas! Grabbers or reachers are very helpful, as well as a couple of inexpensive walkie talkies. Also a cooler for ice packs💛

[@peepla7]

I use a rollator. I have a hack: my kitchen has cabinets under the sink...I open both doors so my knees have some place to go when I sit to wash the dishes. My old house, I took them completely off and put a curtain there. I don't own my current house so I just leave them open.

[@TravelTipsbyLaurie]

Thanks for sharing!! Very smart! Thanks for watching this super old and bad lighting video lol.

[@peepla7]

@@TravelTipsbyLaurie folks used to fuss about my lighting in my older videos and my response was, "it is free, how about that!" ... so don't worry about the lighting... you're imparting valuable information and people will take that for what it's worth.

[@TerrileeYO]

good tips and theres one more, even if you are in a body that doesn't need to be considered disabled, it is good to ready ur home for aging....

[@TravelTipsbyLaurie]

Good point!

[@sidbrown1415]

Oh my gosh the kitchen is the same as mine for my husband but we bought ikea stainless table with legs that chair wheels under and a bank of 3 draws for either side. It took up the space of a dining table but gave him access to everything he needs. But then he can’t reach the back of any worktops so I keep machines in that area because I can reach them.

[@TravelTipsbyLaurie]

Sid, thank you for watching. Sorry the lighting was poor. I love my mom's kitchen. Great ideas.

[@teresagarcia3495]

I subscribed just for this video only :D

[@TravelTipsbyLaurie]

Oh and the lighting was so bad! Thanks for your time.

[@jameynealey6555]

I have found that the "WETONES " antibacterial wipes work a lot better they don't dry your hands out as bad and they are great for small messes and some of their personal hygiene. You can invest in a ceiling fan/light remote. God bless and Good Luck

[@TravelTipsbyLaurie]

Those are great ideas. My eyes were definitely opened to all that could be invented. Thanks! God bless you too today!